Hinge for shoe lasts



Jal 1, 1946- c. H. HEITMAN HINGE FOR SHOE LASTS Filed July 19, 1945 Patented Jan. l, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE HINGE FOR SHOE LASTS Clarence H. Heitman, University City, Mo.`

Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,899

6 Claims.

.provide a hinge construction for embodiment in a sho-e last, which will permit the last to be opened and closed by a relative vertical and pivoted movement in order that the heel part of the last may clear the back line of the shoe upper when removed; and which construction may be locked in closed adjustment of the last, thereby imparting strength to the last at the parting line between the fore and heel sections thereof, thereby preventing damage to the last when the shoe upper is mounted thereon and the last is in expanded position, and used in shoe lasting operations.

Additional advantages attained by the invention will be apparent, without specific mention, from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a last with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the hinge construction in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the hinge construction, a part of which is shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 with the parts partially moved to open. adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing the partsfurther advanced to open adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the hinge elements mounted in the forepart of the last;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the hinge elements mounted in the heel section of the last; and

Fi. '7 is an end view of the part illustrated in Fig.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, I indicates the forepart of the last structure, and 2 indicates the heel section thereof. The forepart of the last has a rear wall 3, the face of which inclines downwardly and backwardly with an offset shoulder near the bottom thereof. The forward wall of the heel section is formed with a face 4 complementary to the face 3 of the f orepart of the last.

This formation of the parting line between the fore and heel sections of the last permits the la'st, on opening, to contract and pivot or tilt forwardly, providing for a shortening from heel to toe so that it may be readily removed from the shoe upper when collapsed. This formation of the matching faces of the two parts of the last also permits a wedging action when the last is in closed position in the shoe upper.

I am aware that collapsible and expandable two-part lasts, as such, are not new in the art, but I am also aware that diculty has been experienced in employing lasts of this type in shoe making, because of the lack of strength in the hinge construction by which the two parts are joined, and I have found that the hinge construction of the present-invention overcomes the disadvantages in this respect.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the front face of the heel section of the last has a kerf or recess 5 in its forward face which extends well into the body of the last toward the heel. A hinge plate, specifically illustrated in unassembled relation in Figs. 6 and 7,

is vmounted in this recess. This hinge plate is in the form `of a clevis formed from a metal plate bent to provide a U-shaped member having side walls 6 and a narrow wall 'I at the top thereof.

' The edges of the leaves 6 are parallel and, as illus` trated in the drawing, incline upwardly and forwardly, as viewed in Fig. 7. The top wall I of this member is extended forwardly and downturned to form a hook 8. Near the bottom of the walls 6 are aligned openings 9, and near the top thereof provided with a kerf or recess I 2 in which a complementary hinge plate is mounted. The forward hinge plate is illustrated in top plan view in Fig. 5 and is shown from different angles in other views. This plate is similar in form to the rear plate and comprises parallel walls I3 anda continuous top wall I4.. This pla-te has its front and rear edges inclined upwardly and forwardly so that when the last is in closed adjustment the forward edge ofthe rear hinge plate will lie in a parallel plane and match and abut against the rear edge of the forward hinge plate.

The forward hinge plate is provided with a cut-out or' notched portion I5 in istop wall I3, positionedso as `to be engaged by the hook 8 on the rear hinge plate .when the last is in expanded position. The forward hinge plate is provided with aligned pairs of openings I6 through the walls I3 near the bottom thereof and a second pair of aligned openings I1 near the top thereof.

The forward hinge plate is set into the recess I2 in the rear face of the forepart of the last, and is pinned in position by a pin I8 similar to the mounting for the .rear hinge plate.

A link I9, which extends horizontally when the last is in expanded position, as shown in Fig. 2, is inserted in the space between the walls E and extends forwardly into the space between the walls I3 and is removably maintained in this position by pins and 2I, respectively, extending through the openings 9 and :I6 in the rear and forward hinge plates. It will be understood that the pins 20 and 2| are mounted and removed through aligned openings formed in the body of the rear section and in the vbody .of .the fore section of the last, thereby providing hinge pins that are `associated with the flast structure in a relatively rigid position, and yet may `be readily removed to disassemble the last.

This assembly of the hinge parts .constitutes an extremely Astrong connection between the fore and heel section Vof the last, Iand, since the hinge pins .upon which the link 1.9 is mounted .are passed through the openings Vin the metal hinge plates, there will be .relatively a small .degree of wear in .the structure, thereby holding the two parts of :the .last .in .alignment `even .after exl tended use.

Furthermore, since v.the .hinge pins, the hinge plates, and the hinge link have .-a metal-.tometal contact, fan .accurate fadjustmentjof .the hinge .structure may be obtained.

The .hinge assembly also permits .the relative movement of the last parts .to collapse the last and to 'extend it, and, in .moving 'to yopening p0- sltion, `the :hinge `.construction permits the -heel section, nrespectlof the foresection .of the last, to be .raised upwardly :and tilted vdownwardlyso that 'the :last .m'ay be easily removed from the shoe upper without binding against .theback .line thereof.

Moreover, it will tbe observed that when the lastis .in expanded lpositionthe structure is such that, a's the relative movement-of the parts ioccurs and theheel `section is moved .to expanded position, :the vhook-8 engages -in the recess I5 in the -topwall I 41of the forward hinge plate Imember interlocking'the two hinge plates together, a'dding rigidity :to theslast -in its expanded position. When moved .to open position, the vhook is disengaged :as :a result of "the .normal .movement fof the jparts kto lopen position.

:In order .to provide .against yopening of .the last after it 'has`been :broughtto expanded position, I :provide means Afor 'securely locking the parts in place,jwhich Ameans comprise Ya recess 22 .nearthe'upper part ofthe rear face .of the forepart'o'f 'the :last 4and :an opening 23 l'aligned therewith through @the upper .part of vthe for-` ward section of the heel lpart of .the last, :into which a :cutter 1pin12l, .orotherisuitable retaining devicegzmay be Iinsert'ed, thereby holding the parts dfth'e .last against 'displacement after 'they have .been .moved to `.expanded position.

The .las't is Yprovided in the top face :of fthe heel section with the usual spindle :socket T25.

.From the .foregoing description, it will be understood th'a't the Iinvention Aaccomplishes the purposes and objects heretofore fmention'ed. '.It

also will be understood that the structure may be modified in certain respects without departing from the essentials of the invention.

What I cl-aim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a last having relatively movable fore and heel sections to open and expand the last, a hinge structure comprising a hinge plate set into a recess in each of the abutting faces of the fore and heel sections respectively, a link, a, 'pivot vpin extending through opposite ends of said link and supported respectively in said hinge plates, and a lock device, one member of which is carried by one of said hinge plates and the other of which is carried by the other of said hinge plates, adapted to'lock the parts with each other when the last is in expanded adjustment.

2. In a last of the class described, a hinge structure comprising a clevis set into a recess in each of the abutting faces of the heel and fore sections respectively, ka link, a .pivot pin extended through each of said clevises and through said link, a hook device carried .by one of said plates and a detent device carried by the other of said plates for locking the plates with each other when the last is ,in extended adjustment.

`3. .In a last structure of Ythe class described, a hinge link extending across the parting line of the last sections, Va U-shaped clevis plate set vinto the respective matching faces of the hinge sections and embracing the link between .the two walls of Asaid clevis. and a latch .device `between said clevises Aarranged to lock the clevises `when thelink is in a horizontal position andtorelease when the link is moved from said position, thereby locking thelast sections together when ,in expanded position and unlocking the .lastsections when the last is opened.

4. In :a last Aof Athe class described, za `hinge structure oomprisingia clevis Vset into 4a recess'i each ofthe abutting faces of vthe heel Vand :fore sections respectively, vsaid clevises Ahaving imatching faces, a link, la `pivot Apin extended through each of said clevises-and through vsaid link, ajiook device carried by one of saidplates and a detent device carried by the other of said plates forlocking the plates with their matching faces in Yabutting position.

V5. In a last having relatively movable fore and heelsect-ions to open and 'expandthe last, a hinge structure comprising a bifurcated hinge Vplate set into a recess in each of the abutting faces ofthe fore and heelzsections respectively,.a link extending between .the Awalls of'said hinge plates, a pivotpin extending through opposite ends of said link and supported respectively in said hinge'plates, and a lock device, one member of 'which is carried by .one of said hinge plates and the other of which is Acarried by the other of said hinge'plates, adapted to lock the parts with each other when the last is in expanded adjustment.

`6. Ina last structure Yof the class described, a hinge extending across the parting line of 'the last sections, a `U-shaped clevis plate set into the respective matching faces of the hinge sections and embracing the linkbetween the wallsthereof, a .latch device between said clevises arranged to lockthe 'clevises whenthe link is in a horizontal position and to Vrelease when the link is moved from said position thereby locking the last sections together when in expanded position, and an additional locking 'means for holding said 'last sections in #expanded adjustment.

CLARENCE `H. 

